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Comment by exacube | Hacker News Reader

yes! tipping is like a naturally occuring form of redistrbution of wealth in capitalist countries :) I personally view the evolution of tipping culture as positive on the whole. and also, I think people tend to tip a bit higher if they feel good about the service, so it still incentivizes good service. When I visit Europe, I am reminded how nice the service industry in America is.

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Nothing quite like holding the barrel of 'not being able to afford to live' to someones head to get them to give you great service. I'm reminded from a number of times when I travel to the US and talk with people from the service industry and finding out they are, anecdotally, mostly in financial crisis.

I've eaten in restaurants all over Europe and I'm genuinely amazed at how many Americans in this thread think the service is bad here. Personally I like my servers to stay out of the way unless I call them, instead of hovering around me with a huge fake grin wishing me a hollow "nice day" just because they want to extract money from me.

It's the same reason I just don't see the appeal of strip clubs - I can't stand people being "nice" to me just because they want me to give them money.

incentivizes good service

I understand it actually incentivizes being an attractive female who touches male diners.

Or you could just have a living minimum wage, lol.

yes, if the government could manage to pass a good law there :) but in the event that the government won't, tipping helps correct the situation.

Or it can be argued that tipping offers those who control the means to change the law (the elected lawmakers) the excuse they need not to.

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